The school year is divided into two semesters. A student normally earns one credit for a Yearlong course and one half credit for a semester course. The minimum course load is five half credits per semester, in addition to whatever physical education Requirements are due. A total of 24 upper school credits are required for graduation, distributed as follows:

English: four credits; one credit is met by English 9 in ninth grade, one credit is met by English 10 in tenth grade, and one credit is met by English 11. Students must take an English class each semester.

Languages: three credits; a three-year sequence of a single language is required in the upper school (French, Latin, Chinese, or Spanish).

History and Social Studies: three credits; one credit is met by Global Cities and the remaining credits must include at least one year of U.S. History.

Mathematics: three credits, two of which must be Algebra 2 and Geometry.

Science: three credits; these credits must include a year each of Physics, Chemistry and Biology.

Fine Arts: two credits; in addition to Global Cities: Visual Arts, one-and-one-half credits are required in Visual Arts; at least one-half credit must be in the Performing Arts.

Physical Education: two credits; freshmen are enrolled all year in the "wellness program" and will receive one credit; sophomores, juniors and seniors must earn the remaining one credit (four quarters in total). During sophomore, junior and senior years students may earn credit by participating in Latin athletics/club teams and/or PE classes.

Service Learning: All Latin School ninth and tenth graders are required to participate in the Service Learning Program.

Project Week: Successful completion of a project is required in each of the four upper school years

The English program is designed to encourage students’ love for the language, develop their command of reading and writing, and increase their confidence and pleasure in expressing themselves. The faculty seeks to refine students’ literary, critical and argumentative analysis while fostering an appreciation of the art of poetry, fiction and nonfiction. The curriculum is designed to help students articulate their responses to literature and their perceptions of themselves and their world.

Grade 10

English 10 is a global literature course, which emphasizes close reading as well as analytical, personal and creative writing. Each student selects a literature elective on a region, such as Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, Latin America, or the Middle East.

Grade 11

English 11 explores American culture and literature. Each student chooses an American literature elective, but every class reads certain core texts.

Electives: American Civilization, American Seeker, Modern American Literature, The New Americans, Silenced America

The history and social studies program helps students become active and informed citizens. Upon completion of the program, students will be prepared to: (1) understand how the connection of personal, local, national and global phenomena produce patterns of change; (2) articulate informed opinions; (3) recognize how aspects of culture and identity combine and conflict to produce unique civilizations over time. Students become critical thinkers and hone their research, writing and communication skills.

Grade 9

Global Cities: A ninth grade requirement, Global Studies examines how humanity has used different types of networks and hierarchies to meet the challenges it has faced throughout history. This course, in collaboration with the visual arts department, focuses on understanding how various cultures over time have been forged and changed through the forces of: agriculture & urbanization; philosophy & religion; imperialism & colonialism; and revolutionary movements.

This course fosters an understanding of the important developments and peoples that have shaped the human experience and our lives today. Students will build reading, writing and critical thinking skills through research, oral presentations, primary document analysis, debates, and simulations in Global Studies.

Grade 10

Global Electives: Global studies courses are designed to help students understand the contemporary world, its critical issues, and some of the factors and events that molded it. Sophomores are required to choose two of the following classes:

Students enter the upper school mathematics program with different levels of preparedness. To best meet the needs of these differing learning styles and abilities, regular, honors and AP levels of certain math courses are offered. Upper school students must complete three credits, including Algebra 2 and Geometry

Electives: Grades 10-12

The upper school science program focuses the attention of the students on the key concepts of science and stresses the processes of science. Through hands-on lab work, traditional and multimedia lectures and group discussion, students develop problem-solving and critical-thinking skills. Students must successfully complete three years of science study, including one year each of: Physics, Chemistry and Biology. Electives are generally open to juniors and seniors only.

The upper school language program offers five levels of Chinese, French, Latin and Spanish. Students must successfully complete a minimum of three consecutive years of a language. All four language skills: speaking, listening comprehension, reading comprehension and writing are addressed. Students practice these skills by means of a variety of real-life situations, the study of culture and an exposure to print media, literature and the arts. The primary goal is for students to be able to function confidently in a Chinese-, French-, or Spanish-speaking country. Through the Latin curriculum students develop reading proficiency so that they can engage with authentic Latin authors. All languages offer opportunities to study in native speaking countries (students taking Latin may study in Rome).

The mission of the physical education program is to help students achieve active and healthy lives and benefit from positive outcomes associated with good health. Freshmen are enrolled in the Wellness course all year; sophomores, juniors and seniors must earn eight quarters of credit in total (three-sport athletes in grades 10-12 are exempt from the PE requirement and seasonal athletes are required to only take PE during the off-season).

Grades 10-12

The performing arts program promotes success in a nurturing environment that helps students develop self-esteem, gives them freedom to learn from artistic risks and encourages them to take pride in their accomplishments. Students have many opportunities to share their art with others through public concerts, plays and presentations.

Grades 11-12

The visual arts program believes that the best way to learn artistic values is to create art. While the study of aesthetics, technique and history plays a vital part in most facets of the fine arts curriculum, creating the “product” gives students the opportunity to appreciate the process of art making, to work analytically to solve problems, to respect others’ forms of expression and to interact in group efforts. Students share their art with others through exhibits, publications and presentations.

Grades 11-12

Our multi-faceted global education program enables Latin students to become globally aware and understand the interconnection of cultures; embrace differences and show empathy that reaches beyond national boundaries.

Nurtured in the classroom and through a rich variety of co-curriculars, students’ global competencies are enhanced by Project Week and a Global Experience Program that focuses on exchange opportunities, language immersion programs, and international partnerships.

The computer science program recognizes the growing impact of computation on nearly every aspect of modern life and aims to prepare students to integrate computer science into their future pursuits, whether academic, professional, or personal. The Computer Science Principles sequence explores the foundational principles of computer science, the explosion of digital media and the Internet, and the creative power of programming. Later coursework introduces students to theoretical and practical applications of these concepts, preparing students to use advanced programming and algorithmic tools to solve problems, understand data, and design interactive web applications.

Grades 9-12

Service Learning is critical in teaching students an awareness of the world outside themselves and the needs of others. Our JK - 12 program is based on the tenets of empathy, awareness and action. In the upper school, service learning is a graduation requirement. Freshmen must complete 10 hours and sophomores must complete 20 hours of service during the school year. Latin students regularly volunteer with up to 70 different organizations in Chicago. A significant number of those are relationships the school has developed through its Uptown Community Partnership. Last year, upper school students completed about 8,000 hours of community service, more than half of them in Uptown.

The upper school library program is focused on building students’ information literacy skills. Students have opportunities to practice information access, evaluation, appreciation, and creation through programming and integrated instruction. The library is available for students as a collaborative study space and its multi-format resources are used by community members for both formal and informal learning.

College Counseling is an integrated and intimate process for all students at Latin. Counselors meet with students individually, lead junior and senior college classes and conduct grade-level meetings and conferences with families. All Latin students learn to collect reliable information, plan for standardized testing, organize applications, present themselves to college representatives and write personal and essays for applications. College counselors also work with faculty and advisers to insure that students and faculty are receiving accurate and timely information about college planning.

Grade 9

Grade-level meetings with students and parents to answer questions about preparing for the college process.

Grade 10

Parents are introduced to the college process and the sophomore class meets with the college counselors at least once per semester. All Latin sophomores take the PSAT

Grade 11

Classes offered by the College Counseling Office help students understand the current college landscape, research schools, and articulate their own personal interests and choices. Individual and family college meetings are mandatory. All Latin juniors take the PSAT.

Grade 12

Individual counseling with students and families continues as well as the college class. Counselors assist with essays, applications, and presentation skills. They also help students investigate financial support, gap years and choose colleges in the spring

The upper school LR program provides tiered support for students as they become increasingly independent and self-aware of their needs as a learner. LR is available to all students but works most closely with students who have diagnosed learning differences. In the junior year, LR facilitates accommodation requests for standardized testing. In the senior year, LR offers individualized meetings to discuss support services and accommodations beyond Latin.

The well being and safety of our upper school students are the Counseling program’s main priorities. Counselors offer assistance and expertise to students who may be experiencing psychological stress, social difficulties and acute crisis, or are participating in high-risk behaviors. Latin’s counselors offer an open and accepting environment in which each student is treated with care. Counselors also serve as consultants and liaisons to parents, faculty, staff and administrators. Any student or family member may request or be referred to one of the counselors, who will work collaboratively with families to develop the best plan to address that student’s needs. Students also are always welcome to stop by the counseling offices informally to discuss any issues concerning their own well being or the well being of others.

Grade 9

Mickey & The Masters: As the culmination of their study of the History of Western Painting, ninth graders recreate master paintings with the added challenge of substituting Mickey Mouse as the main character.

Grade 10

Understanding Evil: In the Nazi Mind elective sophomores examine the Nazi era and its broader context by studying primary sources. The final project for the nationally recognized course is a Nuremberg Trials simulation.

Grade 11

A Tale of Tissues: As an introduction to biology, students read The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks. The unit culminates with a bioethical debate about whether people should have legal ownership of, and/or control over, their tissues.

Grade 12

A Class of Your Own: Senior students have the opportunity to work with a faculty member to create a year-long interdisciplinary project that links research to Chicago community resources.

We create global citizens

A
multi-faceted global education program enables Latin students to become
globally aware and understand the interconnection of cultures; embrace
differences and show empathy that reaches beyond national boundaries.

Nurtured
in the classroom and through a rich variety of co-curriculars,
students’ global competencies are enhanced by Project Week and a Global
Experience Program that focuses on exchange opportunities, language
immersion programs, and international partnerships. Questions? Contact globalexperience@latinschool.org.

Latin students can chose to participate in study abroad and homestay experiences through the School Year Abroad (SYA) program. Both year-long and summer programs are available in Spain, France, Italy and China.

Cedar House Exchange

(Cape Town, South Africa)Founded in 1997, Cedar House is a progressive, co-educational independent school located in Cape Town, South Africa. Latin students have an opportunity to participate in home stays with Cedar House students while touring Cape Town and becoming acquainted with history and culture of South Africa. Latin families host Cedar House students when they come to Chicago.

Georg Herwegh Oberschule Exchange

(Berlin, Germany)Georg Herwegh Oberschule (GHO) is a progressive school serving students in grades 7 - 12. Latin's partnership with GHO allows students to expand their understanding of German history and culture while living with families in and around Berlin. Latin students host GHO students when they come to Chicago for their English language immersion experience.

École Alsacienne Exchange

(Paris, France)The exchange with École Alsacienne, Latin’s oldest international partner school, dates to 1988 and is designed as a language immersion opportunity, which occurs every other year. Students from École Alsacienne come to Chicago during the intervening years.

Woodstock School Semester Exchange

(Mussoorie, India)Founded in 1854 to serve the children of missionary families in India, Woodstock is located in the foothills of the Himalayas, approximately 180 miles north of Delhi. Latin’s formal connection with Woodstock began during Project Week. The program gives Latin students an opportunity to study at Woodstock for a semester, while living in the school dorms. In turn, Woodstock students have the opportunity to study at Latin for a semester while living with a Latin family.

Latin in Rwanda Partnership with WE-ACTx

WE-ACTx (Women’s Equity to Access Care and Treatment) is an international community-based HIV/AIDS initiative that offers comprehensive programs, including medical and psycho-social services, for approximately 2,20 patients, 660 of them children, living with HIV. Latin students began their support of WE-ACTx in 2005 after a LIFE (Latin Initiative for Ethics)-sponsored program with WE-ACTx Co-Founder and Medical Director, Dr. Mardge Cohen. Since 2010, Latin students have traveled to Rwanda to work with Rwandan youth leaders to set up summer programs for youngsters 11-13. Latin students help organize and lead group activities and plan and participate in service projects. In addition, participating Latin students raise the funds to support the summer programs for the children served by WE-ACTx each year.

Latin is among a distinguished group of independent schools that are part of Global Online Academy (GOA). This organization is a not-for-profit educational partnership serving member-school students in grades 9-12. It allows teachers and students from the best independent schools to collaborate through online learning.

Courses offered through GOA enhance Latin's already rich curriculum by exposing students to a different type of learning environment in a unique and innovative way. All GOA courses are designed and taught by teachers from member schools and are a semester in length. The format of courses is asynchronous, meaning, the classes do not “meet” on a regular schedule, rather all communication and collaboration takes place online.

Only At Latin

Capstone Studies Program

Seniors can apply to participate in a year-long Capstone Studies Program, which allows them to create an interdisciplinary project that links their research to Chicago community resources, or present a senior project that is not strictly academically focused.

Project Week

Upper school students spend one week each March exploring the world outside of the classroom during Project Week. Students can choose to learn about literature, art, technology, or the Civil Rights movement, participate in community service or outdoor education, travel the world or get to know their city in a new way.